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CBP

Crew Member Arrested in Canada for Possession of Child Pornography

Submitted by kgnadmin on

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested a cruise ship crew member for possession and importation of child pornography in Frobisher Bay, near Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, Canada. The crew member, identified as Akshay Somaroo, a 31-year-old from Mauritius, was detained on September 1.

According to the RCMP, the arrest occurred when officers boarded the cruise ship as part of routine customs inspections, assisting the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Crew Shore Leave Restricted in New York

Submitted by kgnadmin on

Crew Center received concerning news regarding the crew shore leave in New York. A crew member, who wishes to remain anonymous, has informed us that shore leave is currently not permitted. 

At this time, we are working to gather more information to determine if this restriction applies to a specific cruise line or affects all cruise ships sailing to New York. 

CBP Officers Apprehend Cruise Ship Deserter

Submitted by kgnadmin on

In a recent enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a crew member who deserted the cruise ship Viking Octantis was apprehended. The crew member disembarked the vessel at the port of Detroit on May 1, 2023, for a shore visit but failed to return, without authorization from CBP or the knowledge of the cruise line.

CBP Update: Crew Entry In US Ports Is Determined On Case-By-Case Basis

Crew Center received a large number of emails from crew members related to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) restrictions that brought about uproar by the crew in several US ports in October 2019. The concerns related to the restriction came in especially from crew members aboard cruise ships that only dock in US ports.

Crew Members Denied Shore Leave in New York Again

Today December 27, the cruise ship Spirit of Discovery operated by Saga Cruises arrived in New York with around 530 crew members and 1000 passengers onboard. The ship will be docked in New York for two days and the majority of the crew will have to stay onboard because they are not allowed to go ashore due to new restrictions.

CBP Restrictions for Cruise Ship Crew in New York and New Jersey

Due to the increased number of crew members who joined cruise lines with the intent of jumping ship and stay in the USA illegally, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) imposed new restrictions. The new temporary restrictions regarding shore leave in the ports in New York (Brooklyn and Manhattan) and New Jersey (Cape Liberty) states that only crew members with completed five contracts can go ashore. This is industry-wide and affects all cruise ships entering these ports.

Held at Gun Point, Handcuffed and Fired. MSC Seaside crewmember tells his story

Submitted by kgnadmin on

Following November 17, drug bust in Port Miami when seven MSC Seaside crew members were arrested for smuggling cocaine, Law-enforcement officers boarded the Seaside for the second time on November 24th. During the raids many crew members were traumatized after they were interrogated by Customs and Border Protection officers, and some fired from the company.

MSC Seaside Crew Members Traumatized After Big Raid and Interrogation

Submitted by kgnadmin on

A big raid on the cruise ship MSC Seaside has left many crew members traumatized after they were held at a gunpoint and interrogated. Some crew members were handcuffed by Law-enforcement officers, says one crew member. The Authorities conducted the raid in the early morning hours on November 24th shortly after MSC Seaside docked in the Port Miami. Crew members say that Law-enforcement officers searched crew cabins and left them looking like hell and that the crew were taken ashore for interrogation.